Forma Bakery Photos
Business Info
FORMA BAKERY ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
More like Forma Bakery
Recommended Reviews - Forma Bakery
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Stopped by Forma Bakery this weekend with my partner and it did not disappoint. The flan croissant was the standout, absolutely incredible, and I'm already planning to stock up on a few items next time I'm visiting my parents in LA. We also got a horchata latte and a Mexican mocha, both nice choices. Sat outside enjoying the pastries while watching all the neighborhood dogs walk by, a perfect way to spend the morning.
Finally checked out Forma Bakery in Temescal, Oakland after hearing all the buzz and it did not disappoint. Parking is a bit of a challenge, but once you're there it's worth it. So many fresh baked options to choose from. I went with the pistachio croissant, chocolate chip peanut butter cookie, and a latte. My friend ordered the same and we both agreed, it was absolutely delightful. Flaky, rich, and perfectly paired with coffee. Definitely a spot I'd come back to.
My friends and I placed a pre-order at Forma Bakery on a Thursday evening for pick-up on Saturday morning. When we showed up to pick-up our pre-order, it wasn't clear if we had to wait in the long queue overflowing the bakery or if there was a separate line we could go in to pick up our order. We had one person wait in line while another awkwardly tried to grab the attention of the barista behind the counter. After about 10 minutes of waiting awkwardly around the register, we were finally able to flag the attention of the barista who was thankfully able to help us out with our pre-order. We pre-ordered because we had read they run out of pastries here if you get here too late, but that didn't seem to be the case: around 12:00 p.m., every pastry they offered was still available. I got their seasonal veggie croissant -- roasted spring onion and potato with queso fresco ($5.35). The croissant had a flakey outer layer, but the inside layers were a bit compressed and actually tasted a little dense and stale. The flavors were not as strong as I was expecting and I wish there was just a bit more salt added to the fillings. My wife ordered a seasonal danish -- lime and chili tossed blackberry and mango over toasted coconut cream ($5.50), and the texture of this pastry was very similar to mine. I appreciate that the coconut cream was not too sweet, and the blackberries were plump and ripe. Overall, I thought the pastries from Forma Bakery were above average, but I probably would stop by earlier in the day to get fresher pastries.
As someone who loves baked goods, I had heard good things about this spot that does some Mexican and French fusion baked goods so was very excited to try. Also a flan croissant?! I was sold just by that!! A small line on a Saturday morning around 9:45 am but not too bad. Got mushroom one, flan croissant and the snap pea pickled onion one. So unique and all were great. The flan was definitely the highlight. Perfect sweetness and flakiness. Highly recommend this spot!
This tiny shop has a huge line outside, and it's definitely worth it. My flan croissant was amazing but friend got the savory mole croissant which is even better! And I fully enjoyed my horchata latte, such a brilliant idea!
I've been coming to Forma Bakery all month for one specific thing: their Meyer lemon laminated pastry with mascarpone. It's honestly been my current obsession. The Meyer lemon adds a bright citrus note that pairs really beautifully with the richness of the mascarpone. Earlier in the month it also had blueberries, which I loved, but the current version no longer includes them and is now more in the style of a morning bun/kouign-amann. At first I was surprised by the change, but it's still really delicious. The laminated layers are buttery and caramelized, and the lemon flavor still shines through in a really nice way with the mascarpone. I stopped in around 10:30am and service was pretty straightforward--very in-and-out. The staff was fine, nothing particularly warm or memorable, but everything moved efficiently. If you like citrus-forward pastries or laminated dough, this one is definitely worth trying.
Very fun atmosphere here. Also very unique menu. I can tell by what I ordered as I ate it that the ingredients and structure of the food has a lot of thought and care put into it. The owner truly knows food and specifically pastries. I got a croissant with almond paste coffee grounds and chocolate. It was layered and crispy outside and soft inside. The coffee is also great and reasonably priced. It's about $5.80 for a late which is very low in comparison to many other popular coffee places. The mercies really cute and I wish it was presented better because I'd feature more photos. There's outdoor seating and a long line. Staff is super accommodating and made sure to let me know they were freshly and baking more pastries as quite a few were sold out. I also really love the ally around the corner although sometimes its vibe is opposite that of the street that forma and Betty's is on. Regardless please visit from a one day.
My partner and I have been on the hunt for a solid bakery, and I think Forma is the new bay area title holder. The staff is friendly and helpful, offering plenty of guidance through an overwhelming assortment of choices. We weren't sure what we were even in the mood for, but loved all four of the picks we ended up with. It's a very busy spot with little seating inside, but there are a few seats on the patio area if you're ok with people filtering through as they come in to pick up their items and leave. The store itself is very cute, and we loved the floor tiles and decorations - such a great vibe. While we didn't get to eat the pastries FRESH fresh, we took them home to share with family and everyone loved them. The flavors were interesting, not too sweet, and balanced. I'd really like to try these earlier in the day when they're fresher as that was my only complaint...but that's hardly the fault of the bakery. Next time we're in the bay, we're definitely stopping by to try at least 4-6 more :D
Incredible laminated pastries!! Long lines but they do move. A must try if you're in the area. The kouign amann with the pluot jam was our absolute favorite (8.5/10) because the layers were super crispy and the jam was on point. It was gone too quickly. The flan croissant was missing a bit of the flakiness but still a unique and delicious pastry! (7.5/10) The drip coffee was also solid. Seating was hard so eat outside if you dont want to wait!
Stopped by Forma Bakery on a Wednesday morning to catch up with my sister, and it was exactly what we were looking for--casual, cozy, and delicious. Parking was easy with metered street and neighborhood spots nearby. The area feels very walkable and safe. Inside is small and intimate, with a beautiful pastry case that immediately grabs your attention (eyes definitely eat first). There's a small bench indoors and a couple of outdoor tables--great if you have a fur baby or want to people-watch. Forma has been gaining buzz for its laminated pastries, especially the flan croissant, which lives up to the hype. We ordered the flan croissant with strawberry, and it was one of my favorite pastries to date--perfectly flaky and lightly custardy. It would probably be even better warmed up. We also ordered a ham croissant which was just as delicious! Service was friendly and fast, making this a great grab-and-go spot or an easy stop to pick up a beautiful loaf of bread for gifting.
5 months ago
The flan croissant w/ jam was so incredible. It was flaky, and the flan in the middle was so delicious and unique. The jam was so flavorful, and the flan croissant was the best pastry I tried from Forma bakery. The chocolate pistachio croissant was my next favorite, and the pistachio flavor was very good with the chocolate. The vanilla corn concha was good too, especially the crust on top, but it wasn't as interesting as the other pastries. Last would be the rosquilla w/ jam and almond cream because it wasn't as flavorful as the others and just an average pastry. read more
2 years ago
My first time trying Forma and I'm hooked! I ordered a cappuccino and the cranberry croissant and both were delicious! They have so many croissant choices, as well as different breads. Service was excellent and fortunately for me there wasn't a line. Parking was easy (this time, but it is Telegraph Ave), I lucked out and got a spot right out front. I can't wait to go back, I want to try the Mexican Hot Chocolate. Highly recommend! read more
Finally made in after a hike in the area ! Love the varieties of pastries /bread and coffee so had to pickup couples of baked goods to try! Prices was quite affordable! The chocolate concha was more not as dense as a traditional one we had before it's more of a milk bun which we enjoyed the twist! My fav was the pistachio chocolate croissant and so happy to find a bakery that bake up this option ! Will stop by again if I was in the area craving it ! Staff was friendly and service was quick , we did swing by on a Tuesday read more
Came here on a Monday right when they open. There was plenty of street parking in the morning. I got the almond croissant and the ham and cheese croissant. They are both delicious and flaky. This almond croissant is in my top 3. The almond filling is creamy, nutty, and flavorful. The croissant is light and perfectly baked. The latte is really good as well pairing with the pastries. Took me awhile to decide what I want since there are so many displayed pastries. Service was fast and the place is well decorated for the holidays. read more
This past Sunday, we went to the Temescal Farmers Market. Afterwards, we walked down to Forma Bakery to buy some of their baked goods. I tried their butter croissant. Here's my review on their croissant: Nice size and proportion to their croissant. The outer layer crunch is good. The inner layer was soft and chewy. The taste had a hint of butter. The bottom was not burnt. DJ's rating 4.40/5.00 Would I come back? Maybe. I have to compare other bakeries in the East Bay. read more
5 months ago
7 months ago
So many intriguing flavors and amazing lamination. You can't even tell the vegan treats (many of) don't have butter! We loved all of the flavors we got and can't wait to come back to try more. read more
Forma Bakery opened where Extra Butter/Between the Buns once was. Interior basically a long display counter. A few stands and 2 tables outside for seating. Quick service upon entering. Small display area makes choices difficult. Brew & pastry came quick. Associate promp in pointing out where lids were. Offerings: breads, pastries, coffee.. Sips: 12 oz Highwire coffee drip (3.25) -double cupped. Covfefe not hot per touch. Easy sipping, mellow medium roast very smooth. Bites: seasonal vegetable croissant (5) -flaky open faced croissant with fresh summer squash, pineapple, & cayote pieces submerged with poblano cream. -lightly buttered, the crispy croissant, problano cream & veggie mixture created an unami delicacy. 4.5 stars probable repeat when i decide what to order. read more
2 months ago
Fabulous, for several reasons. Friendly counter staff. Cute bakery either great bakery smells and some small tables outside. The food! Had to have a plain croissant to see how well they can do a bakery basic. It was perfect! Also had an apricot jam kouign-amman. Holy cow! That thing was perfectly crispy with lots of great layers, no butter there! lol! The apricot rosquillas was very tasty as well. We bought 3 loaves of bread to take home to eat later that day. The original loaf was very good. The blue corn sourdough (?) was also very good. I was less impressed with the olive loaf. It had olive flavor but seemed to be more from olive oil. Was disappointed there were more olives in it. Nevertheless, all 3 breads were thick and chewy, yum! read more
4 months ago
10 months ago
This place hits! Everything I've had from here is a winner - especially their loaves, rolls & cookies. It's my go to bakery when I need a host or house warming gift. read more
Wow. A friend told me about the bakery and I saw all the hype and figured it would be fine, but man did it exceed expectations! I've been twice and this is what I've tried: *Rosquilla w apricot - so yummy, just wish there was a bit more apricot, but man was it good! *Flan croissant - holy crap! The croissant dough was perfection! *Corn pudding croissant - so, this wasn't exactly my cup of tea (the corn part of it, or maybe there wasn't enough of it), but again, the croissant and flakiness was perfection! I also tried the olla latte and that was delicious! I would highly recommend and can't wait to try more things here! read more
There is a headline from an article about Forma Bakery framed inside that says "Tastes Like France" but after sampling the treats that I recently purchased here, I can honestly say that it tastes like France and so much more. For the owners of Forma Bakery, the Schnetz family proves you can go home again and also share memories of home with others. Located on a busy stretch of Telegraph Avenue in the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland, Forma Bakery comes from father and son duo of Thomas and Jackson Schnetz, who have continued on with their success of both Xolo and La Esquinita Mexican restaurants, which are both located in nearby Oakland neighborhoods, and late lamented Doña Tomás, which operated on this very block for twenty years before closing six years ago. Now, baked goods are on their agenda, thanks to their creations of serving traditional Mexican pastries made with French baking techniques. Before opening Forma Bakery, Jackson Schnetz spent three formative years running the viennoiserie program at Fournée Bakery in Berkeley. The fact that they serve Mexican conchas alongside croissants was all I needed in terms of inspiration to make my way to Forma Bakery one day. And that day was a recent weekend afternoon of walking around the Temescal neighborhood, which had a lively Farmer's Market going on nearby, and a simple walk down Telegraph Avenue and I was taken aback by the sapphire blue exterior that greets visitors when they stand outside. Upon entry there was a line inside, but what really took me aback was the fact that it was quite warm inside their bakery, as no doubt they were baking up a storm on this weekend day, despite the fact that we were closest to their closing hour when I made it inside. What I like about Forma Bakery is that they have examples of every pastry that they have available on any given day so customers can see what they are getting and with a little card below the pastry example, it also shows the pastry's name, what the main ingredients are, and whether it's vegan or not. Although there were a number of tempting offers staring me right in the face including their signature Conchas, which were in both vanilla and chocolate flavors; a wide variety of croissants, which included the requisite almond, chocolate, and plain flavors; and their own versions of kouign amanns. What drew my attention was two of their pastries in particular, mainly based on their looks, as their Peach Croissant and their Rosquilla with apricot jam, both gave the appearance of something truly special, so I ordered both items. To go with my pastry order, I also decided to order a Horchata Latte from their drink menu. My total bill was $17.07 before gratuity was added in, which of course is on the pricier side, but considering the cost of going out these days, and the amount of effort that the team at Forma Bakery clearly puts into their product, would turn out to be well worth it. I was able to sip on my Latte as I left for my car, and it was a lush treat. I saved my two pastries to be reheated upon my return home, and both were special in their own way, as the Peach Croissant has little morsels on the top that served as oat streusel, but all sugary goodness. The same went for their Rosquilla, which had apricot jam oozing out of all sides and resembled an old-school Danish but elevated beyond belief. I am so glad that I got to finally try the pastries at Forma Bakery, as they certainly have something truly unique going on here. They have already made their mark in the local Temescal community, and judging by the loyal crowds, they are here to stay, and just proves that for the Schnetz family, you never really can leave home. read more
There's a snappy jingle from my childhood for Campbell's soup: mmmmm mmmm good, mmmmm good. Campbell's soup is mmmm good! Take a casual spin down Telegraph some fine morning and drop by Forma Bakery. (preferably before the lines start) You will be amazed at the selection of pastries simply displayed calling out your name. For my first trip I tried a Chocolate and Ham and Cheese croissant. And a cappuccino. Both croissants were flakey, buttery crusty on the outside, soft and delicious on the inside. The cappuccino - the perfect accompaniment. My take? It was a righteous experience! The Chocolate croissant was the best I've had. And the Ham and Cheese croissant rivaled the Acme Bakery Ham and Cheese Turnover. Matt says if you find yourself near Temescal some morning, drop by and have a croissant or two. They are mmmmm mmmmmm good! read more
10 months ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
Really good croissant . It's on par with other top bakery in the Bay . Concha is a little bit dry for me . read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
I held a blind taste test at work using plain and chocolate almond croissants from Forma going head to head against Arsicault bakery, one of the most celebrated croissants in SF, and Forma came out on top. The croissants and pastries are so good, it's insane. More people need to be eating these!! read more
1 year ago
i love this bakery and as a mexican, the mexican inspired pastries have always made my tastebuds quite happy - especially the mexican hot chocolate pastry *INSANE MUST TRY* my only reservation with this bakery is the uncertainty of how much knowledge or enthusiasm the staff has on the parts of mexican culture that largely inspire their pastries. otherwise, amazing incorporation of mexican flavors read more
1 year ago
I got the cafe de olla latte with oat milk and it was delish! We also shared a ham and cheese croissant and were obsessed with the all flakey layers.. 10/10 experience. Will def come back to get a loaf of their fresh sourdough read more
4 months ago
7 months ago
If I am up early enough, I think about going to Forma. I love their take on beautiful laminated pastry and breads with amazing flavor combinations that remind me of pan dulce I ate growing up. I always get their concha - soft and fluffy, not too sweet topping. It's a small shop and does get busy even during their early hours, but their front of house is calm and patient with taking orders. Feels like a neighborhood staple in the temescal district. read more
7 months ago
7 months ago
7 months ago
Sooo cutie, service was nice! Drinks yummy, vanilla corn concha YUM, also super cute inside! read more
Had my first ever Kouign Amann and it was delicious! Theirs is smaller than others i've seen with a raspberry topping and it was so sweet and crunchy (it's weekends only). Cashier was also lovely. All their sweets looked so yummy! Service is fast and there's small tables outside as well. read more
8 months ago
8 months ago
The horchata latte was delicious. The also had an arroz con apricot croissant that was bright and light. The blue exterior was welcoming and inviting with nice seating area right in front. Great spot to start my day! read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
flaky yum jam brioche. Witnessed the veggie seasonal bun corn sell out a bit past 11am. Wondering if the vegan stuff is still there if I come by before 2 read more
8 months ago
More info about Forma Bakery
4920 Telegraph Ave
Unit A
Oakland, CA 94609
Temescal, North Oakland
Directions
Visit Website
https://www.formabakery.com
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
More Info
Health Score
